Tag Archives: beginning farmers

Kentucky Farmer Seizes Opportunity to Put Down Roots of His Own

Posted on August 19, 2015 by cassiebable

By:  Kentucky Farm Service Agency For the first 25 years of Daniel Hayden’s life, he has dedicated his time working on other people’s farms. He fed cows, cut hay, hauled tobacco and for the past five years, managed his parents’ … Continue reading →

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Pitching Aquaculture and Microloans Is a Marine Veteran’s New Mission

Posted on January 9, 2015 by tanya brown

Raising clams has always been a part of Michael McCarthy’s life — until Sept. 11, 2001. “That was my motivation,” said McCarthy, who was working with the New York/New Jersey Harbor relay program, purging and harvesting clams, when terrorists crashed … Continue reading →

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Greater Protection Now Offered for Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Growers

Posted on December 17, 2014 by tanya brown

Greater protection is now available for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance. New provisions under Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program will provide greater coverage for losses when natural disasters affect specialty crops such as vegetables, fruits, … Continue reading →

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FSA Loans Provide Boost to Young Farmers

Posted on October 16, 2014 by tanya brown

Young people in their 20s and 30s are farming and the USDA Farm Service Agency is getting them started. Andy Birch, 27, put his dreams of owning a dairy farm on hold due to low wholesale milk prices throughout the … Continue reading →

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Agriculture Census Provides Look Into Organic Farms, Producers

Posted on October 2, 2014 by tanya brown

New data released from the 2012 Census of Agriculture shows that certified organic agriculture producers are younger, beginning farmers who sell directly to consumers and produce on-farm renewable energy.  Earlier this year, the Census reported that total organic product sales … Continue reading →

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New Web Resource Available to Beginning Farmers, Ranchers

Posted on July 11, 2014 by tanya brown

A new resource is available that provides a centralized, one-stop resource for beginning farmers and ranchers to explore USDA initiatives designed to help them succeed. The USDA New Farmers website provides information on how to increase access to land and … Continue reading →

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USDA Announces Funding for Producers to Become Energy Efficient

Posted on May 9, 2014 by tanya brown

Funding is available to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to make energy efficient improvements or install renewable energy systems. Up to $12.3 million in grants and $57.8 million in loan guarantees is being provided through the USDA Rural Energy … Continue reading →

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2012 Census Shows Increase in Young, Beginning Farmers

Posted on May 9, 2014 by tanya brown

More young people are getting into farming as a full-time job. The 2012 Census of Agriculture data shows an 11.3 percent increase in young and beginning principal operators who reported their primary occupation as farming. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics … Continue reading →

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FSA Part of Team Helping Beginning Farmers Secure Land

Posted on March 3, 2014 by tanya brown

Caleb and Lauren Langworthy positioned themselves to get as much farming education as possible. Several internships and knowledge of both farming and business took them from renting land to a path of farm ownership. After investors took an interest in their … Continue reading →

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College Grad Uses Beginning Farmer Loan to Start Dairy

Posted on February 7, 2014 by tanya brown

After graduating from college, Jacob Shenk knew his family’s farm wasn’t large enough to support his return, so he worked on a neighbor’s farm for a few years. After that, he went out on his own. Shenk knew of a … Continue reading →

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